Electric-lamp-holding attachment for miners&#39; caps



Oct. 23, 1928.

C. W. 'WATKINS ELECTRIC LAMP HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR MINERS CAPS Filed Sept. 28, 1926 Zlwuwntoz [Z M Nail/ins Gamm Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

unrrrn stares CHARLES W. WATKINS, OF KINGSTON, EENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-LAMP-HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR MINERS CAPS Application filed September 28, 1926. Serial No. 138,252.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in electric lamp holding attachments for miners caps, and it is an object of the invention to provide an attachment of this kind which effectively provides for the lessening of the weight on the head of the wearer with a resultant increase of comfort and wherein the lamp proper is caused to set close to the eyes to assure a more effective illumination.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an attachment of this kind which includes a holder to be attached to the cap or hat and wherein the holder is provided with a recess to receive thebody of the lamp supported by the holderythus permitting the lamp to set closer to the head on both vertical and horizontal lines than is permitted w th the holders now generally in use, thereby decreasing leverage with corresponding increase of comfort. A Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of this kind which permits an electric lamp to be supported by thecap or hat of the miner in a manner permitting use of a materially short shade or visor to reduce the weight of the complete head equipment and to assure a more desirable area of illumination.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved electric lamp holding attachment for a miners cap whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a view in side elevation illustrating an attachment constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention in applied position;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the holder comprised in my improved attachment unapplied;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the cord holding spring clamp.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, C denotes an ordinary type of cap ,gen-

erally employed by miners including a shade or visor Arranged at the forward portion of the cap is a holder H preferably formed of leather and which is provided at its lower portion with the part 1 which is sewed or otherwise connected to the shade or visor S. This holder H, as particularly illustrated in Figure 2, is substantially U-shaped in form and has the upper extremities of its side members 2 inwardly directed, as at 3, forsuitable attachment to the top of the cap.

Riveted, as at 4, or otherwise attached to the portions 3 are the end portions 5 of the spring clamp A. The intermediate portion of this clamp A constitutes a depending spring jaw 6, the lower portion of'which being substantially semi-circular in formand with the upper opposed walls in converging relation. It is to be noted that at the junctions between the portions 5 and the jaw 6 twists 7 are produced which readily facilitate, upon sufficient pressure, an adjustment of the jaw 6 in order to permit the lamp Lheld by the spring clamp to be directed as maybe preferred or as necessitated by lamps of varying sizes. The twists 7 may be made suflicient to allow jaw 6 to be set in any position that may he demanded by various types of electric cap lamps.

By reference to Figure 2 of the drawing, it 8 will be seen that the inner end portions of the portions 5 of the clamp A are upwardly curved While the rear edges of the portions 5 are straight. This provides .a certain amount of fullness of the material at the forward parts of the portions 5 which results in the lines 7 having a twist when the clamp is applied to the shank of the bulb or to the shank of a lamp casing. The lamp casings are made in different patterns. Some of them have their shanks at the centers of the casings and some have their shanks eccentrically disposed. In the form shown in Figure 1, the shank of the'lamp casing L is eccentrically disposed and is held within the clamp member A. It is apparent that by using the shank of the lamp casing as a lever, the clamp memher A may be twisted or turned at lines 7 so that the axis of the lamp casing may be disposed up or down or to one side or the other. This is due to the fullness of the material at the forward edge parts of the fortlons 5.

The lamp L, as herein disclosed, constitutes a well known type of electric lamp for miners use and includes at its'upper portion a rearwardly directed. stem 8 which is readily received within the jaw 6 of the spring clamp A and when so engaged the lower portion of the lamp will readily be received within the central opening or recess 9 of the holder H. This is of advantage as less length of eye shade or visor will be required, thus reducing the weight of the cap and the equipment carried thereby. By having the lower portion of the lamp L received within the opening or recess 90f the holder H it also permits the lamp to set nearer the eyes and focus the beam or light emitted from the lamp more in line with the eyes and closer to the object that the wearer of the cap may be observing. This naturally is more effective in connection wit-h reading, measuring, marking, etc. at close range as ma be required. within the mine.

The cord for the lamp L leads from the stem 8 to the battery carried by the user and this cord B is adapted to be received within the spring clamp D riveted or otherwise secured to the rear portion of the cap. This spring clamp D is constructed and operates in substantially the same manner as the spring clamp A hereinbefore referred to.

This spring clamp D in practice serves to hold the cord B in proper position with respect to the cap C and prevents the cord from falling or waving as the head is turned. In

other words, the spring clamp D operates effectively to prevent annoyance to the wearer of the cap and clamp by the cord.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an electric lamp holding attachment for a miners cap constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and format-ion of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my in vention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim z- The combination with a lamp having on its upper portion a rearwardly directed stem; of a holder for the lamp comprising a sub stantially U-shaped plate having its end portions provided with angular disposed extremities, a resilient metallic strip attached at its end portions to said extremities and provided with an intermediate lower portion which is disposed between the end portions of the support, said lower portion receiving the stem of the lamp, the end-edges of the lower portion of the'strip being twisted out of the plane in which the end portions of the strip lie, the lower portion of the lamp being re ceived within the central opening provided by the substantially U-shaped member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHAS. WV. WATKINS. 

